Pressure regulator with locking device

ABSTRACT

A locking device for an adjustable pressure regulator of the type having a spring chamber containing a compression spring, an adjusting member threaded into the spring chamber and rotatable to adjust the compression of the spring, and a closure for the spring chamber threadedly connected to the housing of the regulator. The locking device prevents sufficient movement of the closure in a direction away from the adjusting member to permit access to the latter, and comprises an axial locking pin extending outwardly through the adjusting member and the closure, a head on the inner end of the locking pin and engageable with the adjusting member to prevent withdrawal of the locking pin, and a transverse opening through the locking pin outwardly of the closure to receive the shackle of a padlock, such opening being so located as to limit outward movement of the closure sufficiently to preclude access to the adjusting member.

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Scott E. Allen, Los Angeles, both of, Calif. FORFJGN PATENTS 883880 1/1954 Great Britain v [21] Appl. No.

22 Filed Dec. 10, 1969 702967 Primary Examiner --Albert G. Craig, .lr. Attorney-Harris, Kiech, Russell & Kern [45 I Patented July 20, 1971 [73] Assignee Swingspout Measure Co.

Los Angeles, Calif.

[54} PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH LOCKING ABSTRACT: A locking device for an adjustable pressure DEVICE regulator of the type having a spring chamber containing a compression spring, an adjusting member threaded into the spring chamber and rotatable to adjust the compression of the spring, and a closure for the spring chamber threadedly connected to the housing of the regulator. The locking device prevents sufficient movement of the closure in a direction away from the adjusting member to permit access to the latter,

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and comprises an axial locking pin extending outwardly through the adjusting member and the closure, a head on the inner end of the locking pin and engageable with the adjusting member to prevent withdrawal of the locking pin, and a transverse opening through the locking pin outwardly of the closure to receive the shackle of a padlock, such opening being so located as to limit outward movement of the closure sufficiently to preclude access to the adjusting member.

1,209,768 70/ 1 8O 1, 63ti,641 7/1927 70/164X PRESSURE REGULATORWITH LOCKING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates in general to a locking device for an adjustable pressure regulator and, more particularly, an adjustable pressure regulator of the type which includes: a

housing provided with a spring chamber containing a com-.

pression spring; an adjusting member threaded into the spring chamber and seated on the spring and provided with means,

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION In the light of the foregoing background, the primary objectof the invention is to provide a locking device which prevents sufficient movement of the closure in a direction away from the adjusting member to permitaccess to the tool engageable means, thereby preventing rotation of the adjusting member to vary the compression of the spring from a preset value by unauthorized persons.

The invention may be summarized as including, and an important object'is to provide a locking device which includes: a locking pin extending axially of the spring chamber and outwardly through the adjusting member and the closure; 21 head on the innc. end of the locking pin and engageable with the inner end of the adjusting member to limit outward movement of the locking pin; and means adjacent the outer end of the locking pin and outwardly of the closure for connectinga lock to the locking pin to limit outward movement of the closure sufficiently to preclude access to the tool engageable means on the adjusting member.

Another object is to provide a locking pin provided witlxa transverse opening therethrough, outwardly of the closure, of a size to receive the shackle of a padlock, whereby withdrawal of the shackle from the opening permits disengagement of the closure from. the locking pin to provide access to the tool engageable means on the adjusting member.

An additional object is to provide a tool engageable means comprising a diametral slot in the adjusting member intersecting an axial opening through the adjusting member for the locking pin. I

Yet another object is to provide a tool insertable into the diametral slot which comprises a cross pin carried by the locking pin and insertable into the slot orwithdrawal of the shackle from the opening through the locking pin, the shackle normally maintaining the cross pin spaced axially outwardly from the diametral slot.

A still further object is to provide a tubular tool which fits over the locking pin upon removal of the padlock and the closure, and which is provided at one end with a blade means insertable into the diametral slot.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, ad vantages features and results which will be evident to those versed in the adjustable, pressure regulator art, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. I is a plan view of an adjustable pressure regulator to which the locking device of the present invention has been aplied;

p FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a reduced, fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 3-3 of FIG. 2

FIG.- 4 is an exploded perspective view showing various parts of the adjustable pressure regulator and of the locking device of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing another em bodiment of the invention; and I FIG. 6' is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing parts associated with the embodiment of FIG. 5 of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawing, illustrated therein is a conventional adjustable pressure regulator 10 having inlet means 12 connectable to a suitable source, not.

shown, of fluid under pressure. A gauge 14 connected to the regulator 10 indicates the regulated pressure available at an outlet means 16, the latter being shown as including a valve 18 equipped .with, an outletv nipple 20 to receive a hose, not shown. Such hose may, for example, supply carbon dioxide at the regulated pressure to a beer keg, not shown, in a bar.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the regulator 10 includes a housing 22 provided with a neck 24 defininga springv chamber 26' containing a compression spring 28 seated. atone end against a diaphragm'30 of the regulator and at its-:other end against an adjusting member 32 threaded into the spring chamberv The diaphragm comprises an assembly of parts held together by a stud 34 having a nut 36 threaded thereon. The adjusting member 32 is provided therethrough with a central hexagonal opening 38 for the reception of a suitable hexagonal tool, not shown, for rotating the adjusting member to adjustthe compression of the spring 28, and thus the regulated.

pressure. The adjusting member 32 is also providedwith a diametral slot 40 intersecting the hexagonal opening 38 and adapted to receive a screwdriverlike implement, not shown, for rotating the adjusting member to adjust the regulated pressure. A closure in the form of a cap 42 is threaded on the outer end of the neck 24 to close the outer end of the spring chamber 26. i

It will be understood that the foregoing structure of the regulator 10 is conventional. In order to adjust the regulated pressure, it is merely necessary to remove the cap 42 and rotate the adjusting member 32- with a suitable tool inserted into the hexagonal opening 38, or into the slot 40. For example, a coin, not shown, may be inserted into the slot 40. Bartenders frequently take it upon themselves to remove the cap. 42 and adjust the regulated pressure if beer is not being dispensed at a rate as highas they think it should be, which may be due to the fact thatthe pressure in thecarbon dioxide source has fallen below the regulated pressure. If the gas source is then changed, the regulator 10 will discharge gas at too high a pressure, excessive sudsing of the beer being the result. The present invention, which will be described in subsequent paragraphs, eliminates any possibility of such unauthorized tampering with the proper setting of the regulator 10.

Considering first FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawing, illustrated therein is a locking device of the invention which comprises a locking pin 52 extending axially of the spring chamber 26 and outwardly through the opening 38 in the adjusting member 32 and through a central opening 54 drilled in the cap 42 to accommodate the locking pin. To prevent the ingress of dirt, or the like, around the locking pin 52, the opening 54 may be provided with an O-ring 56 retained by a washer 58, or the like, welded, brazed, soldered, or otherwise secured, to the inside of the cap 42.

The locking pin 52 is provided at its inner end with a head 60 engageable with the inner end of the adjusting member 32 to limit outward movement of the locking pin. The head 60 may be recessed to receive the free end of the stud, 34 and the nut 36 thereon when the locking pin 52'is in an innermost position.

The locking pin 52 is provided adjacent its outer end with a transverse opening 62 to receive a shackle 64 of a padlock 66, or the like. The shackle opening 62 is spaced from the head 60 on the locking pm 52 a distance such that the cap 42 cannot be moved axially away from the adjusting member 32 far enough i to permit access to either of the tool engageable means 38 and 40. Thus, even if the cap 42 is partially or completely unscrewed with the padlock 66 in place, tampering witli-thc setting of the regulator is prevented.

locking pin 52 is provided intermediate the head 60 thereon and the shackle opening 62 with a cross pin 68 which, after disengagement of the shackle 64, may be used as a screwdriver blade in the diametral slot 40 to adjust the position oi: the member 32, and thus the regulated pressure. More particularly, upon withdrawal of the padlock shackle 64 from the opening 62, the locking pin 52 may be rotated to align the cross pin 68 with the diametral slot 40, and then moved inwardly sufficiently to insert the cross pin into the diametral slot. Preferably, this is done with the cap 42 removed. Subsequent rotation of the locking pin 52, as by means of a rod, not shown, inserted through the shackle opening 62, results in rotation of the adjusting member 32 to vary the degree of compression of the spring 28, and thus the regulated pressure. It will be noted that when the cap 42 and the padlock 66 are in place, the shackle 64 of the padlock maintains the cross pin 68 spaced axially outwardly form the diametral slot 40. Under such conditions, therefore, the cross pin 68 is inoperative to rotate the adjusting member 32.

If desired, the cross pin 68 may be dispensed with, or simply not used, and a tool 90 to be described hereinafter may be employed instead.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing, illustrated therein is a locking device 70 which is similar in most respects to the locking device 50. The locking device 70 includes a locking pin 72 adapted to project axially outwardly through the opening 38 in the adjusting member 32 and through the opening 54 is provided by modifying the cap 42. The locking pin 72 is provided at its inner end with a head 80 correspond ing to the head 60 on the pin 52. A transverse opening 82 through the locking pin 72 is adapted to receive the padlock shackle 64. There is no cross pin corresponding to the cross pin 68.

Considering the tool 90, it is tubular and is adapted to be slipped over the locking pin 72, after withdrawal of the padlock shackle 64 and removal of the cap 42. The too? )0 is provided at one end with a screwdriverlike blade means comprising two diametrally spaced lugs 92 respectively insertable into the ends of the diametral slot 40 in the adjusting member 32. The tool 90 may be rotated to rotate the adjusting member 32, and thus adjust the regulated pressure, by a rod, not shown, inserted through a transverse opening 94 in the outer end of the tool. Alternatively, the tool 90 may be formed with a hexagonal external cross section to receive a wrench, not

shown, for rotating the adjusting member 32.

The operation of the locking device of the Invention is similar to that of the locking. device 50 so that a more detailed explanation is not necessary Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow:

We claim as our invention:

1. A locking device for an adjustable pressure regulator having a. housing provided with a spring chamber containing a compression spring, an adjusting member threaded into said spring chamber and seated on said spring and provided with means engageable by a suitable tool for rotating said adjusting member to adjust the compression of said spring, and a closure for said spring chamber connected to said housing, said locking device preventing sufficient movement of said closure in a direction away from said adjusting member to permit access to said tool engageable means, and comprising:

a. a locking pin extending axially of said spring chamber and outwardly through said adjusting member and said closure; a head on the inner end of said locking pin and engageable with the inner end of said adjusting member to limit outward movement of said locking pin; and

c. means adjacent the outer end of said locking pin and outwardly of said closure for connecting a lock to said locking pin to limit outward movement of said closure sufficiently to preclude access to said tool engageable means.

2. A locking device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting a lock to said locking pin comprises a transverse opening through said locking pin of a size to receive the shackle of a padlock, whereby withdrawal of said shackle from said opening permits disengagement of said closure from said locking pin to provide access to said tool engageable means on said adjusting member.

3. A locking device according to claim 2 wherein said tool engageable means comprises a diametral slot in said adjusting member intersecting an axial opening through said adjusting member for said locking pin.

4. A locking device as defined in claim 3 wherein said tool comprises a cross pin carried by said locking pin and insertable into said diametral slot in said adjusting member upon withdrawal of said shackle from said opening through said locking pin, said shackle normally maintaining said cross pin spaced axially outwardly from said diametral slot. 

1. A locking device for an adjustable pressure regulator having a housing provided with a spring chamber containing a compression spring, an adjusting member threaded into said spring chamber and seated on said spring and provided with means engageable by a suitable tool for rotating said adjusting member to adjust the compression of said spring, and a closure for said spring chamber connected to said housing, said locking device preventing sufficient movement of said closure in a direction away from said adjusting member to permit access to said tool engageable means, and comprising: a. a locking pin extending axially of said spring chamber and outwardly through said adjusting member and said closure; b. a head on the inner end of said locking pin and engageable with the inner end of said adjusting member to limit outward movement of said locking pin; and c. means adjacent the outer end of said locking pin and outwardly of said closure for connecting a lock to said locking pin to limit outward movement of said closure sufficiently to preclude access to said tool engageable means.
 2. A locking device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting a lock to said locking pin comprises a transverse opening through said locking pin of a size to receive the shackle of a padlock, whereby withdrawal of said shackle from said opening permits disengagement of said closure from said locking pin to provide access to said tool engageable means on said adjusting member.
 3. A locking device according to claim 2 wherein said tool engageable means comprises a diametral slot in said adjusting member intersecting an axial opening through said adjusting member for said locking pin.
 4. A locking device as defined in claim 3 wherein said tool comprises a cross pin carried by said locking pin and insertable into said diametral slot in said adjusting member upon withdrawal of said shackle from said opening through said locking pin, said shackle normally maintaining said cross pin spaced axially outwardly from said diametral slot. 